¿Es factible diferenciarse a través de la protección medioambiental? Análisis evolutivo de la relación entre actuación medioambiental de la empresa y su influencia sobre el resultado económico

Abstract

This work aims to analyze cases and studies carried out by different authors in relation to the environmental performance of the firms and their influence on the economic return, with the purpose of orienting the decision making process of businesses. Thus, 30 works, published from 2010 to 2016 are analyzed to identify the dominant sign of this relation, and the type of environmental actions that provide better result. In addition, a comparative analysis is made, taking into consideration the work from Vicente et al. in 2012, who analyzes cases from 1972 to 2009. Although it continues being interesting for companies to develop environmental performances, results suggest that it is, less and less, a differentiation factor. Moreoverer, results point out that it is more interesting for a company to develop environmental actions that are more visible for the consumer and stakeholders, such as ecological production, ecological distribution, or the development of eco-innovations.